Valve mechanism for submarines



H. E. GRIESHAB'EH. VALVE MECHANISM FOR SUBMARINES. APPLICATION HLED NOV-'10, I920.

Patentw May 3 W2 11.;52

I-"lI rinse n. enrnsrrannn, or GRUTON, coivrvnc'rronr, assienoa 'ro lEtLEG'TRlitZ soar v ooraralvv, a conrona'rronor new means.

verve ivrnorranrsivr son. summarises.

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a lication filed November 10, was.

To all to 710m it may concern lie it known that LHneo Gremsrmnnn, residing at tiroton 1n the county of New London, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in invention. such as will enable others skilled in the art to wh ch it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to valve mechanism for submarine vessels.

When it is desired to submerge a submarine, the common practice is simply to open the series of flooding valves situated in the bottom of the hull, and thusallow the water to flow into the ballast tanks. This method has proved satisfactory when the vessel is at rest or cruising at very low speeds, but when going at full speed. the time required to fill the tanksand effect submergence is greatly increased, due to the inertia of the water and its consequent failure to flow into the tanks of therapidly moving vessel. Obviously thisis a serious disadvantage. The consequence is that either the speed must be slackened, or full.

speed maintained and the time of submergence prolonged-both i'indesirable and possibly dangerous alternatives. Tt is very important as a military requirement that the vessel go from full speed on the surface to full speed submerged in the shortest poslast tanks. Submergence can be eifectedby tlllS means even more quickly during: fast cruising than when at rest.

In order that the invention maybe more clearly understood reference is bad to the accompanylnrr drawings disclosing two preferred embodiments thereof, and in which Flgure 1 1s a longitudinal sectlon u h the hull of a submarine, and show- Patented lt-iay 293, 1%?32.

Serial an. $23,024:.

ing the flooding valve mechanism, and Fig; ure 2 is a section similar to that of Fig. 1 but showing a modified type of valve.

In these drawings 1 represents the hull of the vessel and. 2 the flooding passage therein leading; to the ballast tanks. When using); the type of valve shown iirl ig. l a frame or housing 3 secured to the inner side oi the hull and surrounds and defines the flooding; passage. The inner side of this housing; terminates in an annular valve seat 4:[113011 which the valve 5 is designed to be seated. The peripheral face of the valve is provided with a gasket 6 adapted to bear against the valve seat and assure a watertight joint. The valve is operated by means or the valve stem 7 in a manner well understood. Save for the annular housing 3 the mechanism described above presents nothing that is novel.

Hinged at one side of the housing 8 and near the surface of the hull 1 is a scoop plate 8. This scoopplateis provided near its middle with an upstanding slotted ear 9 through which passes a pin 10 secured to the outer end of a bolt 11 which projects from the outer face of valve 5. When the valve is in. closed position the scoop plate 8 lies substantially flush with the face of the hull. as shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, preferably bearing against the housing 3 as shown. When, however. the valve is in open position thescoop plate is swung outwardly. all as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In the form of mechanism shown in Fig. 2 the housing 3 of the first figure is replaced by a spider or frame 12, which is provided with an annular flange 13 serving; as a seat for the valve 14. This valve 14 is likewise provided with a gasket 15 and is operated by means of a valve rod 16. Hinged to an with the face of the hulhas shown in solid lines in Fin. 2. When the. valve is in 0 en p p r pia te swung outwardly lines.

55o tar as the operation of the scoop plate is concerned, the twoforins of valve mechanisms shown in the two figures are essentially the same in that in both instances opening oi the valve operates to swing the scoop plate outwardly. ln 1, however, this is a direct movement as the valve nioves outwardly to open. "if he valve shown in Fig. 2 moves inwardly to open, but through the instrunientality of hell crank lever 20 this inward movement operates to swing the scoop plate outwardly. i 1 ith this arrangement the inrush of the water tends not only to force the scoop plate outwardly but to rnove thevalve inwardly and thus further open it. in other words. all of the forces are operating to effect rapul opening of the valve.

The operation of these devices will be ap parent from the foregoing description, it being understood that the direction of movei'uent of the vessel is that indicated by the arrows. It will be readily ui'iderstood that the very inertia of the water, which operates to retard flooding whenusing the ordinary simple opening. is now turned to account and made to assist in rapidly filling the tanks. The resistance offered to the water when the scoop plates are thrown outward and in open position, and which is necessary during the flooding operation would. oi course. be highly disadvantageous and undesirable when the valve is closed. For this reason it is fundamental in this invention that some means be present for swinging the scoop plate outwardly only when the valve is opened and closing; it when the valve is closed. The specific mechanisms shown and described in this application do not exhaust the possibilities and are merely JOSlilOll as shown in dotted illustrative o the means whereby the desired end may be attained. The invent-ion has been illustrated and described in connection with the liOOKlillg valves oi. submarines and it is in this connection Lhat it will probably lind its greatest usefuhuzss. lt could, however. be used. in connection with the discharge valves, where discharge valves separate 'l'i'oin the llomling valves. are used, by mounting the scoop plate to open iimxard the rear. Ho also reui'waldly opening scoops embodying; the invention may be used to advantage in connection with vent valves controlliiu; a"; vent passages leading iron. the upper part ol the ballast lui li'S. as will be understood.

l claim: ii. i". valve niech-inisau vl'oi' sulnuaiine vescmnprisiiug th combination of a l'run'io includii' a valve eut. a valve adapted to be seateo thereon, a scoop plate hing-ed lo the frame and designed to close against it when the valve is closed. and means l'or siinulluneously 1!1()\l1l rho valve inwardly lo open it and MVlllgjlilfl the scoop plate outwuldlv. 2. in :nilgnnarine vessel. the combination of a hull having a 'lloodiiui' passa 'o therein. a. valve designed lo open and close the tloodinn; pa. a e. a scoop plate hinged on one side ol the flooding passage. and an operative connection between the valve and scoop plate by means o l which the lulier is s-iwung ontwardlv when the valve is opened ill-- \vardly to direct water through the flooding passage.

ioodino' valve lllt(llll'l1ll-ill'l 'l'oi suh marine vessels. comprising the combination o l' an inwardly opening: valve. an outwardly opening scoop plate. and means for openiiu: both valve and scoop plate in flood the vessel.

in testimonv whereof. l a'lhx my signature.

l l llt o l3). G-lilhli ll A BER.

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